GE102 - Marder I, Tank-hunter

The Marder I was the first Panzerjäger of the Marder series. The Marder series of self-propelled anti-tank guns began development in late 1941 to increase the mobility of 7.5cm PaK 40 anti-tank guns by mounting them on atracked chassis. The need arose in the summer of 1941 with the appearance of new Soviet tanks like the T-34 and the heavy KV-1 and KV-2.

The Marder I was developed in May 1942 and carried the 7.5cm PaK 40 anti-tank gun on the captured French Tracteur Blinde 37L (Lorraine). This French artillery mover/armoured personnel carrier was captured by theGermans in 1940, with more than 300 seeing their way into German arsenals. The original crew compartment superstructure was removed and the gun placed on top of the chassis. Around this a new open-topped compartment was built to give the gun and crew some protection from small arms fire.

Between July and August 1942, 170 Marder I panzerjägers were built on the Lorraine chassis.

The Marder I vehicles were sent to the Eastern Front in 1942 to serve in the Panzerjäger (tank-hunter) units of infantry divisions.

Divisions on the Eastern Front who used Marder I panzerjägers: • 31. Infanteriedivision, Panzerjägerabteilung 31, August 1942 to December 1943 35. Infanteriedivision, Panzerjägerabteilung 35, September 1942 to December 1943 • 36. Infanteriedivision, Panzerjägerabteilung 38, October 1942 to June 1943• 72. Infanteriedivision, Panzerjägerabteilung 72, September 1942 to December 1943 • 206. Infanteriedivision, 1. Panzerjägerkompanie/ Schnelleabteilung 206, January to December 1943• 256. Infanteriedivision, 5. Kompanie/Panzer Schnelleabteilung 256, November 42 to- April 1944In Tunisia the 334. Infanteriedivision used the Marder I from January to May 1943.

In Normandy it was used by the 716. Panzerjägerabteilung of the 716. Infanteriedivision who fielded ten Marder I self-propelled 7.5cm PaK40 guns. On D-Day (6 June 1944) the tank-hunters were positioned near Biéville.

In Flames Of WarThe Marder I can be used in both mid and late war. In the mid war you can support a German force with Marder I tank-hunters from both Ostfront and Afrika with the Tank-hunter Platoons.In late war the last few Marders saw service with the 716. Infanteriedivision (see briefing) and on the eastern front until April 1944 with the 256. Infanteriedivision.

The Marder I is Fully-tracked, though it is Slow, Overloaded and Unreliable. It is lightly armoured with 0 all round giving the crew some protection from small arms fire. Despite these mobility drawbacks it is armed with the powerful 7.5cm PaK 40 gun which is Hull-mounted and has a Range of 32²/40cm, ROF 2, Anti-tank 12 and FP 3+. It is also armed with a AA MG for self-defence against aircraft.